LITMIR.BIZ

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feel you are worth less than any man. Otherwise they will exploit your weakness.” Bath-Shua lowered her tone. “Don’t let men use you in the service of the gods. Listen! There is nothing good in the sexual encounter with the gods. It only gives room to the vain imaginations of men. Maybe they experience the chaotic traits of some gods, such as the lust of Baal or the deviousness of Anath. But you serve what is good of the gods, the faithfulness of the LORD, the perseverance of Isis. Don’t let the good be overcome by evil.”

      Rivkah clasped her amulet as Bath-Shua’s words swirled around her.

      “You are a capable girl who can find a way through adversity. You know how to conduct a household, how to work with your hands. You can cope in any situation. Do not fear. There is still hope.”

      * * *

      Lachish was to be set to the torch that day. The city would be erased from the face of the earth. Only a smoldering ash-heap would remain after the fire had ravaged the city. Wooden beams and mud bricks do not offer much resistance to fire.

      This would not be a random conflagration, but a fire carefully planned to ensure the thorough destruction of the city. Itur-Ea’s unit was involved. They were to enter the city through the gate and set the southeastern corner alight before leaving the city through the breach at the top of the siege ramp.

      They marched into the city torches in their hands. Rushing through the empty streets they reached a corner opposite a great shaft. Other units had already started fires in the north of the city. Now it was their turn. Entering the houses they set fire to anything they could: furniture, straw mats, clothes, jars of oil. The dry material burst into flame. It was a nightmarish scene: flames shooting through roofs and doors, smoke pouring over the city, soldiers running through empty streets, their footsteps echoing from bleak walls. As they advanced, Itur-Ea could hear houses collapsing as walls gave way and beams were consumed by fire.

      * * *

      Rivkah could smell the smoke. “They’re really burning the city.”

      “Yes. We’ll have to make a break for it shortly.” Bath-Shua stood up and walked out of the shed to peer into the lane. “We have to try.”

      “Will there be other people trying to escape the city?” Rivkah asked.

      “I don’t think so. Most of them would have been killed or taken captive. We’re lucky the Assyrians didn’t find us.”

      “What about my family? Mother, Father? Would they be able to escape?”

      “Not many will survive the conquest of Lachish. Many have died. Others the Assyrians will take away as captives. Maybe your family has been able to escape, Rivkah. Let’s hope so, but this is war.”

      “Will the LORD not protect them? You said the LORD will provide.” Rivkah raised her voice.

      “He does provide,” Bath-Shua assured, “but he has given Lachish over to destruction. Many will be destroyed with the city. Some will live, others will die. We do not know why. The LORD knows.”

      The explanation didn’t comfort Rivkah at all. As if fear and sorrow could be explained.

      “Rivkah, you have to be strong now. This is our only chance to live. It will be dangerous. But don’t be afraid of dying. It is better to die seeking freedom than to cower and entrust yourself to cruel Assyrian caprice.”

      Bath-Shua took Rivkah’s hand and pulled her out of the shed. “Come, we have to go. I’ll lead you. Just follow me.”

      They went into the lane. Bath-Shua let go of Rivkah’s hand. Keeping a careful watch they walked along the rubble-strewn street. Rivkah turned around and looked one last time at Kaleb’s resting place. Would his body be consumed by the flames? He had to be left behind at the place of his final battle. She didn’t have much time to mouth a farewell as she hurried to keep up with Bath-Shua.

      At the corner Bath-Shua stopped. Holding Rivkah back with one hand she surveyed the street. “It’s all clear. Come quick!” They ran along the street and up the counterramp. Bath-Shua kept to the side of the rise, in the shadow of any remaining walls.

      The signs of the battle were evident: an overturned chariot, helmets, spears, shields. Arrows and sling stones were scattered amongst the rubble. Blood seemed to have seeped into the dirt. Apart from four dead horses there were no bodies on the ramp. Even in their haste Bath-Shua seemed to have noticed it. “The Assyrians must have allowed them to gather the fallen. They’re probably in a mass grave by now.”

      Rivkah just concentrated on getting out of this hell. She felt sick in this place of death. Behind them clouds of smoke were billowing from the burning houses.

      But instead of rushing through the breach in the wall and out into the open, Bath-Shua slowed down. When Rivkah tried to push past her, Bath-Shua stopped her.

      “Careful! The Assyrians might be just out there.”

      Bath-Shua’s worry was real. After they had crept to the edge of the breach, they could see the soldiers on the slope below. The men were standing in small groups, talking among themselves, watching and pointing as flames engulfed more of the city. Rivkah and Bath-Shua pressed themselves against large blocks of stone that had once formed part of the city wall.

      “We’ll wait a moment. I hope the soldiers will go further down the slope. Then we have to make a dash for it. Luckily it’s getting dark now. The night will protect us,” Bath-Shua told Rivkah. She studied the horizon, taking in the location of the main enemy forces. “It seems there are no posts up the valley. We will have to go left along the wall, down the hill and across the dry stream bed. From there we might be able to go up the valley or we will have to flee into the hills.”

      Movement came into the soldiers on the slopes below. Someone shouted commands and the men came together.

      “Right, get ready now,” Bath-Shua whispered. Just then Rivkah heard footsteps coming up the ramp from the city behind them. She tugged Bath-Shua’s dress. Now Bath-Shua heard them too.

      “Let’s go now! Quick!” There was no time to wait for the soldiers outside to get lower down the slope. Bath-Shua clambered over the rubble and out onto the slopes that dropped away from the city wall. Rivkah followed her. They kept close to the wall as they hurried away from the breach.

      Looking back Rivkah could see a group of Assyrian soldiers emerging from the city and stopping for a moment. Rivkah prayed they wouldn’t notice the two women hurrying away under the city wall.

      Bath-Shua stopped briefly. No-one seemed to have spotted them.“We’ll have to get down the hill here. Keep low! We have to be quick, but be careful not to stumble. There are no Assyrians straight down there. We should make it.”

      Rivkah followed Bath-Shua down the steep slope. They could make it.

      * * *

      The smoke became thicker and the heat more intense. Itur-Ea’s lungs were burning. It was easy to get disorientated in this labyrinth of streets.

      The captain signaled his troops to assemble. Once everybody had joined the group, the unit rushed out of the narrow lane and rounded a corner. On the road they met another unit heading for the siege ramp. Following their lead they passed through streets filled with the rubble of destroyed buildings. As they ascended the counterramp, the valley spread before them with the Assyrian camp pitched on the mound across the saddle. This must have been the view the defenders had from these walls. Through the breach, across the loose stones of the wall, they left the city behind and exited into the open.

      Itur-Ea turned around and watched the high walls, now crumbling. Flames were raging throughout the city now. The end of Lachish!

      As his eyes swept over the city mound, he just glimpsed them out of the corner of his eye. In the dusk he wasn’t sure at first. But yes, there below the wall two figures were making their way down the hill. They were trying to get away as quickly as possible. Fugitives! Itur-Ea shouted and ran after them. He did not turn around to see whether anybody else joined the pursuit.

      *

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